Facial recognition tech introduced in city centre

Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology is being introduced in York city centre as police try to tackle serious crime.

The technology works by comparing live camera footage to a watch list made up of people who are wanted, missing or present a risk of harm to themselves or others.

North Yorkshire Police said it would use LFR for the first time in the city on Wednesday.

The system, which has been used by other police forces including neighbouring West Yorkshire Police, identifies potential matches and alerts officers who review the information, carry out further checks and determine whether action is required.

West Yorkshire Police said they had made 82 arrests by using the technology since they began using it in November 2025.

LFR has been criticised by some privacy campaigners, but in April a challenge against the Metropolitan Police's use of it was dismissed at the High Court.

North Yorkshire Police said images that do not match the watch list are deleted immediately and the watch list itself is deleted at the end of each deployment.

The force said it would publish all future deployments of the technology several days in advance, except in exceptional circumstances.

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